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An interesting fixture is on the cards as newly-promoted Racing Santander host Villarreal in the first round of La Liga at El Sardinero on Sunday.
The hosts have been absent from the Spanish top flight since the 2011/12 season and will hope to kick off their new campaign on a winning note.
Villarreal, meanwhile, enter this campaign full of momentum after their best finish in almost two decades.
Read our Racing Santander vs Villarreal prediction, preview and betting tips below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Racing Santander vs Villarreal key stats
- Racing Santander have lost four of their last five matches.
- Villarreal, in contrast, have five wins in their last six outings across all competitions.
- Racing Santander have conceded first in six consecutive games.
Racing Santander vs Villarreal preview: Hosts to hold their own?
Racing Santander vs Villarreal — Tale of the Tape
| Racing Santander | vs | Villarreal |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | Position | N/A |
| N/A | Points | N/A |
| N/A | Goals For | N/A |
| N/A | Goals Against | N/A |
| N/A | Clean Sheets | N/A |
| N/A | Home / Away Rank | N/A |
*These figures were accurate at the time of publishing.
Racing Santander earned promotion to La Liga for the first time in 18 years by winning the La Liga 2 title last season.
Interestingly, while the hosts were the league's highest-scoring side with 90 goals, they also had one of the worst defences, conceding 61 times in 42 league fixtures.
To remedy their defensive woes, Racing Club have signed former Valencia shot-stopper Julen Agirrezabala from Athletic Bilbao. They have also secured a permanent deal for Asier Villalibre, who scored 16 league goals during his loan spell at the club last season, while former Real Madrid and Real Sociedad midfielder Sergio Canales has returned to his boyhood club on a free transfer.
Unsurprisingly, Racing Santander have stuck with head coach Jose Alberto Lopez who has been at the helm since December 2022.
In contrast, Villarreal parted ways with Marcelino Garcia Toral, even though he guided the team to their first top-three finish since the 2007/08 season, while bringing in former Rayo Vallecano coach Inigo Perez as his replacement.
Villarreal will kick off their La Liga campaign on the road for the first time since the 2022/23 season. The Valencia-based outfit have had a poor track record in Round 1 games over the past decade, having won only two of their last 11 opening fixtures.
Like their opponents, the Yellow Submarine have held on to their best players from the previous campaign, although Thomas Partey, Dani Parejo, and Alfonso Pedraza have departed the club this summer.
It is also worth mentioning that these teams clashed in the Copa del Rey last season, and despite being the overwhelming underdogs, Racing Club eliminated Villarreal at this stadium.
Racing Santander vs Villarreal form guide & betting tips
| Racing Santander | vs | Villarreal |
|---|---|---|
N/A |
La Liga Form | N/A |
| N/AA | Points | BN/A |
| N/A | Form Table | N/A |
| N/A | Goals For | N/A |
| N/A | Goals Against | N/A |
L
L
L
W
L
|
Form (All Comps) |
W
W
L
W
W
|
Whispers Predicts: Racing Santander 2-3 Villarreal
At 13/10 (2.30),Villarreal are considered favourites by the bookmakers.
Racing Santander lined up preparatory friendlies against four La Liga teams and failed to win any of them (D1, L3). Considering Villarreal's recent run of results, we are confident that the visitors will claim all the spoils in a high-scoring contest.
Moreover, both teams were on the scoresheet in three of Villarreal's last four matches, and this can be backed at 4/6 (1.67).
We also fancy Villarreal & BTTS – Yes at 31/10 (4.10). This combination landed in three of the visiting team's last six competitive fixtures.
> Over 2.5 total goals at 4/5 (1.80) | Likelihood: Probable
> BTTS – Yes at 4/6 (1.67) | Likelihood: Probable
> Match result: Villarreal at 13/10 (2.30) | Likelihood: Probable
> Villarreal & BTTS – Yes at 31/10 (4.10) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct Score: 2-3 at 26/1 (27.00) | Likelihood: Outsider